Kia ora Logan,

 

Thank you for your email.

 

The information you refer to have been omitted was from
the Medsafe webpage for COVID-19 Therapeutic Products – Questions and
Answers. The Ministry of Health decided to exclude information relating to
the vaccine’s effect on transmission as we constantly review and update
our advice to reflect the latest evidence and science on the best ways to
fight COVID-19. As the Ministry has previously noted, while infections
with the Delta variant in vaccinated persons potentially have reduced
transmissibility than infections in unvaccinated persons, additional
studies are still needed. 

Our primary focus is ensuring that reliable information about the vaccine
is easily available to the New Zealand public, and that our communications
help address any information gaps. Vaccines are a critical aspect of the
package of measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19. We do not yet know the
extent to which the vaccines prevent Covid-19 transmission in a
given individual. However, vaccination is expected to reduce overall
infection rate and the incidence of symptomatic disease, and therefore the
risk of onward transmission within our communities. 

 

Preliminary results from studies carried out by researchers have shown
that two doses of the Pfizer vaccine can substantially reduce transmission
of the
virus: [1]https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/....
However more data is required to understand the extent of the effect that
vaccination has on transmission of the Delta variant. A summary of
currently available data can be found on the [2]US CDC science brief
page.    

Medsafe also publishes up to date information regarding the Comirnaty
vaccine, including its
clinical efficacy and safety: [3]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArti...
following links may also be useful to you: 

o Information regarding the approval process of the vaccine can be found
here: [4]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/vac...

o Information regarding the efficacy and safety of the vaccine can be
found
here: [5]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...

The Ministry also regularly updates the Science News page for up to
date information regarding COVID-19 and the
Vaccine: [6]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...

Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [7][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.    

  

Ngâ mihi  

OIA Services Team  

   

[8]Ministry of Health information releases  

[9]Unite against COVID-19 

 

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Logan <[FOI #17061 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 6 October 2021 12:22
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Prevention / Reduction in
transmission of COVID-19

 

Dear Ministry of Health,

Recently the COVID-19 Q&A section of the Medsafe website was updated to
remove the following:

"
Does the vaccine prevent or reduce transmission of COVID-19?
At this stage, we do not know if vaccination prevents or reduces
transmission of COVID-19.
"

([10]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...)

Please provide any and all documentation/communications regarding the
decision to remove this entire question from the page.

Yours faithfully,

Logan

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #17061 email]

Is [Ministry of Health request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests
to Ministry of Health? If so, please contact us using this form:
[11]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[12]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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References

Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
2. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nco...
3. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArti...
4. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/vac...
5. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
6. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
7. mailto:[email address]
8. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
9. https://covid19.govt.nz/
10. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
11. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
12. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

hide quoted sections

Kia ora,

 

Thank you for your Official Information Act (the Act) request. This is
an automatic reply to let you know we received it.

 

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. We
will endeavour to acknowledge your request as soon as possible. Further
information about COVID-19 can be found on our
website: [1]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...

 

In accordance with the Act, we'll let you know our decision within no more
than 20 working days. If you'd like to calculate the timeframe, you can
use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [2]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

If you have any questions while we're processing your request, please let
us know via [3][email address]

 

Ngā mihi  

OIA Services Team  

   

[4]Ministry of Health information releases  

[5]Unite against COVID-19 

 

 

****************************************************************************
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legal privilege.
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distribute or copy this message or attachments.
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References

Visible links
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2. http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
5. https://covid19.govt.nz/

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Logan,

 

Thank you for your request for official information. The Ministry's
reference number for your request is: H202114950

 

As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
the day your request was received. If you'd like to calculate the
timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

 

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. If
we are unable to respond to your request within this time frame, we will
notify you of an extension of that time frame.

 

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch.

 

Ngā mihi

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [2][email address]

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Logan <[FYI request #17061 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 26 October 2021 12:54 pm
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Response to your correspondence 6 October 2021

 

Dear OIA Requests,

 

Thank you for the response. My request was seeking the communications
surrounding the decision to remove this statement. Please provide any and
all meeting minutes, internal emails etc that are relevant to the edits
made to that page.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Logan

 

-----Original Message-----

 

Kia ora Logan,

 

 

 

Thank you for your email.

 

 

 

The information you refer to have been omitted was from 
the Medsafe webpage for COVID-19 Therapeutic Products – Questions and 
Answers. The Ministry of Health decided to exclude information relating
to  the vaccine’s effect on transmission as we constantly review and
update  our advice to reflect the latest evidence and science on the best
ways to  fight COVID-19. As the Ministry has previously noted, while
infections  with the Delta variant in vaccinated persons potentially have
reduced  transmissibility than infections in unvaccinated persons,
additional  studies are still needed. 

 

Our primary focus is ensuring that reliable information about the vaccine 
is easily available to the New Zealand public, and that our
communications  help address any information gaps. Vaccines are a critical
aspect of the  package of measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19. We do
not yet know the  extent to which the vaccines prevent Covid-19
transmission in a  given individual. However, vaccination is expected to
reduce overall  infection rate and the incidence of symptomatic disease,
and therefore the  risk of onward transmission within our communities. 

 

 

 

Preliminary results from studies carried out by researchers have shown 
that two doses of the Pfizer vaccine can substantially reduce
transmission  of the

virus: [1][3]https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/....

However more data is required to understand the extent of the effect that 
vaccination has on transmission of the Delta variant. A summary of 
currently available data can be found on the [2]US CDC science brief 
page.    

 

Medsafe also publishes up to date information regarding the Comirnaty 
vaccine, including its 
clinical efficacy and safety: [3][4]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArti...
following links may also be useful to you: 

 

o Information regarding the approval process of the vaccine can be found

here: [4][5]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/vac...

 

o Information regarding the efficacy and safety of the vaccine can be 
found

here: [5][6]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...

 

The Ministry also regularly updates the Science News page for up to 
date information regarding COVID-19 and the

Vaccine: [6][7]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...

 

Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to 
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be 
contacted by email at: [7][email address] or by calling 0800

802 602.    

 

  

 

Ngâ mihi  

 

OIA Services Team  

 

   

 

[8]Ministry of Health information releases  

 

[9]Unite against COVID-19 

 

 

 

 

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

From: Logan <[FOI #17061 email]>

Sent: Wednesday, 6 October 2021 12:22

To: OIA Requests <[email address]>

Subject: Official Information request - Prevention / Reduction in 
transmission of COVID-19

 

 

 

Dear Ministry of Health,

 

Recently the COVID-19 Q&A section of the Medsafe website was updated to 
remove the following:

 

"

Does the vaccine prevent or reduce transmission of COVID-19?

At this stage, we do not know if vaccination prevents or reduces 
transmission of COVID-19.

"

 

([10][8]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...)

 

Please provide any and all documentation/communications regarding the 
decision to remove this entire question from the page.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Logan

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

 

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[FOI #17061 email]

 

Is [Ministry of Health request email] the wrong address for Official
Information requests  to Ministry of Health? If so, please contact us
using this form:

[11][9]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on 
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[12][10]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer,
please  ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or
LGOIMA  page.

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared 
by the Ministry of Health's Content and Virus Filtering Gateway

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

References

 

Visible links

1.
[11]https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...

2.
[12]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

3.
[13]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArti...

4. [14]https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/vac...

5.
[15]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...

6.
[16]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...

7. [17]mailto:[email address]

8. [18]https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...

9.
[19]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

10.
[20]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

11.
[21]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

12.
[22]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[23][FYI request #17061 email]

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[24]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
4. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArti...
5. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/vac...
6. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
7. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
8. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
9. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
10. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
11. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
12. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
13. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArti...
14. https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/COVID-19/vac...
15. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
16. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
17. mailto:[email
18. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
19. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
20. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
21. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
22. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
23. mailto:[FYI request #17061 email]
24. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Logan,

 

Please find attached a response to your official information act request

 

Ngā mihi 

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [1][email address]

 

 

 

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